How can I improve English pronunciation?

By watching a lot of british movies and television shows, and listening to british radio?

This is a random thought. Make a list of the words and sounds that you struggle with. Have someone tape themselves saying those words and sounds. Listen to them and practice them when you have time.

I would add to @ragingloli‘s post by saying also listen to English speaking news readers. Travel to an English speaking country and speak only English if possible. Take any opportunity to speak with English speakers in English.

The last advice is going to be the best. No amount of “listening to” or “practicing” (by oneself) will be better than simply “having conversation with” native (or experienced, and relatively accent-free) speakers of English. You should especially make sure that the other person knows that you want to be corrected when you mispronounce words or use awkward constructions. Otherwise, a polite listener will simply “try to make do” with what you say and probably not give you the correction / feedback that you desire.

I found this pronunciation site a while back when I needed to learn how to pronounce some foreign words for a school presentation. This similar site might help, too.

I was born here in the US, only speak English, and even after over 35 years, even I don’t pronounce things right!

But seriously, @WasCy has the best answer here so far. You can’t just read or listen or practice in private; you need to actually use the language exactly as you intend to use it and have actual conversations with people willing to correct you.

@ragingloli That may work for a Brit or pretty much any non-US English speaker (most English-speaking places seem to have more of a UK-style English), but it’ll be considered all wrong here in America.

If you have a specific word in mind, go to this site. Type in the word, not only will it give you the definition, there is a little speaker symbol there and it will say the word for you as well. It is spoken in generic english. I come across so many words in print that I never hear in common usage therefore have no clue how to pronounce, so it helps me frequently.

You can download Read Please 2003
It has facility to speak the text you type in it.
Here’s their free version
They have American, British, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, & Italian voices too.

Edit : You can also go to Merriam Webster online dictionary where you can listen to words & can find meanings too.

In my opinion watching a lot of British movies and television shows, listening to British radio, and watching Hollywood DVDs will improve your English especially in terms of

- listening skills (speed, different accents…)
– passive vocabulary
– feeling what sounds right and wrong

But it doesn’t do much good for your active vocabulary and your oral English. You can increase your active vocabulary by writing a lot. For example here on Fluther. To improve your pronunciation you need to talk a lot to native speakers. And you need a good tutor who gives you feedback. Classes would be ideal. Another thing worth trying is this:

http://www.tutorvista.com

Thank you all. I like the websites recommended.. I also started practicing with an English speaking friend, that should help. :)

practice saying things in the mirror. the looser your mouth looks, than the better you sound most likely. or the drunker….depends on how well your doing.